LIWF courts top sommeliers

The organisers of the London International Wine Fair have announced plans to send VIP passes to 200 of the UK's top sommeliers this week.

The organisers of the London International Wine Fair have announced plans to send VIP passes to 200 of the UK's top sommeliers this week.

The VIP invites include a pre-paid Oyster card to facilitate travel to the ExCeL centre and invitations to Gerard Basset's masterclass on how to win sommelier competitions, the Union des Grand Cru de Bordeaux 2010 tasting and a drinks reception on Monday May 20.

The invite-only passes will be sent to Master Sommeliers, those working at Michelin-starred restaurants and those identified as rising stars by LIWF's organisers.

"We understand that for many of our exhibitors, attracting the cream of the UK on-trade is a priority. By packaging sommelier-focused incentives together we are reinforcing the LIWF as a must-attend event for this sector," said show director Ross Carter.